#447: O Blessed Spring

[lutheranhymns]

Is this a spring like a spring of water?

That would make sense for the baptism section, maybe it's a double-entendre. But no, it's like, baptism usually happens in early childhood, which is like the spring of your life. It's an extended metaphor.

Did you experience "uncertain faith" and/or "rebellious tears" in your youth?

I mean, lots of tears, but not particularly rebellious. I was and am fairly conventionally religious, the world has enough to be depressed about.

Do you still completely "trust the promise of the spring"?

I mean, sometimes it seems more of a "blest mystery," but I try. (Doesn't always work, see above.)

Comments

O Blessed Spring

[(Anonymous)]

Beautiful. I do think the spring of water image along with the springtime of our lives idea is an intentional double entendre, which is one of the reasons I love this hymn. Tears can also be a mixed image, tears of worry, of joy, of sadness, of tenderness. The fact that we cry water-filled tears parallels the springs of water that can both flood and bathe the earth. Trust is different than complete knowledge, so it’s probably the best we can manage for a mystery.

Thanks for the lovely thoughts to consider as the seasons change.

Your faithful, Eagan-based Fan.❤️

Re: O Blessed Spring

[lutheranhymns]

Aww, thank you so much! <3

Of course we will be hearing from Susan Palo Cherwien again, she gets around. Actually I forgot to mention this is the title of her anthology which I recently cleared off my old bookshelf...

Re: O Blessed Spring

[(Anonymous)]

❤️